OBJECTIVETo observe effects of acupuncture combined speech therapy for cerebral palsy children with linguistic retardation.

METHODSTotally 132 cerebral palsy children were randomly assigned to the speech training group (Group A, 44 cases) and the routine acupuncture combined speech training group (Group B, 44 cases), and the acupuncture combined speech training group (Group C, 44 cases). Patients in Group A received one to one training including game therapy, therapy of communication attitudes, and so on. Those in the other two groups were needed at Baihui (GV20), Sishencong (EX-HN1), the first language zone, the second language zone, and the third language zone. Those in Group B were treated with electric needling and then speech training. Those in Group C were treated with language training, while needling with needle maintaining for 40 min. All patients were treated once daily, 5 times per week, 20 times as one course of treatment, 6 courses in total. The efficacy was assessed using S-S phonetic speech developmental retardation examination (CRRC version). The development quotient (DQ) was observed referring to the Gesell intellectual development scale before treatment, after 3 and 6 treatment courses.

RESULTSCompared with Group A (the total effective rate: 51.3%, DQ value: 58.1 +/- 13.3), better effects were obtained in Group B (the total effective rate: 77.5%, DQ value: 60.4 +/- 13.5) and Group C (the total effective rate: 81.0%, DQ value: 64.0 +/- 11.6) (all P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in the total effective rate or post-treatment DQ value between Group B and Group C (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture combined speech therapy showed obvious effects on cerebral palsy children with linguistic retardation.